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Abstract:

A passenger compartment element of a motor vehicle has a housing in which
at a functional component is provided. The passenger compartment element
is disposed in a passenger compartment, on or behind an inner side of a
front windshield in a region through which an airstream which is directed
at least in certain sections onto the inner side of the front windshield
flows from an air outlet opening at least temporarily. The passenger
compartment element is distinguished in that the housing has an outer
contour which is rounded and fluidically optimized with respect to its
being flowed around by the airstream directed onto the inner side of the
front windshield. The cross-sectional surface of the outer contour,
against which cross-sectional surface a part of the airstream flowing
along or at least virtually parallel to the front windshield flows, is
larger than a cross-sectional surface lying in the flow-off region.

Claims:

1. A passenger compartment element of a motor vehicle having a passenger
compartment and a front windshield, the passenger compartment element
comprising: a functional component selected from the group consisting of
electrical components and electronic components; and a housing in which
at least one said functional component is disposed, said housing disposed
in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, on or behind an inner
side of the front windshield of the motor vehicle in a region through
which an airstream which is directed at least in certain sections onto
the inner side of the front windshield flows from at least one air outlet
opening at least temporarily, said housing having an outer contour being
fluidically optimized with respect to its being flowed around by the
airstream directed onto the inner side of the front windshield, said
outer contour having a cross-sectional surface, against said
cross-sectional surface a part of the airstream flowing along or at least
virtually parallel to the front windshield flows, being larger than a
cross-sectional surface lying in an flow-off region.

2. The passenger compartment element according to claim 1, wherein an
extent of said outer contour in a transverse direction with respect to a
part of the airstream flowing along or at least virtually parallel to the
front windshield is smaller than in the direction of flow.

3. The passenger compartment element according to claim 1, wherein said
housing has an at least partially droplet-shaped outer contour.

4. The passenger compartment element according to claim 1, wherein said
housing adjoins one of an instrument panel or an interior component which
adjoins the instrument panel.

5. The passenger compartment element according to claim 1, wherein said
housing is attached to one of an instrument panel or to an interior
component which adjoins the instrument panel.

6. The passenger compartment element according to claim 1, wherein said
housing is attached to the front windshield.

7. The passenger compartment element according to claim 1, wherein said
housing has a component foot being attachable on an outer side.

8. The passenger compartment element according to claim 1, further
comprising a line feed connected to said housing.

9. The passenger compartment element according to claim 7, wherein said
component foot has a flow-optimized design with respect to the airstream
directed onto the inside of the front windshield.

10. The passenger compartment element according to claim 7, wherein said
component foot has a lining element of a flow-optimized design with
respect to the airstream directed onto the inside of the front
windshield.

11. The passenger compartment element according to claim 8, wherein said
line feed has a flow-optimized design with respect to the airstream
directed onto the inside of the vehicle front windshield.

12. The passenger compartment element according to claim 7, wherein said
line feed has a lining element of a flow-optimized design with respect to
the airstream directed onto the inside of the front windshield.

13. The passenger compartment element according to claim 1, wherein: said
functional component has a sensor element; and said housing has, on a
side facing the front windshield, at least one opening formed therein for
receiving said sensor element.

14. The passenger compartment element according to claim 1, wherein said
housing has, in said flow-off region, a spoiler surface at which
virtually eddy-free detachment of the airflow takes place at least
temporarily.

15. The passenger compartment element according to claim 7, wherein said
component foot is selected from the group consisting of a base and a
holder.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, of
German application DE 10 2011 008 969.1, filed Jan. 20, 2011; the prior
application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a passenger compartment element of a motor
vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle, having a housing, in which at
least one electric and/or electronic functional component is provided or
integrated and which is arranged in the passenger compartment of the
motor vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle, on or behind an inner
side of a vehicle front windshield in a region through which an airstream
which is directed at least in certain sections onto the inner side of the
vehicle front windshield flows from at least one air nozzle at least
temporarily.

[0003] In the field of motor vehicle engineering, a large number of
electric and electronic components are known which are attached from the
inside to or behind the vehicle front windshield. Such components are,
for example, cameras, sensors, chip card readers, compass systems,
navigation systems, clocks, antennas and/or system elements for toll
detection etc., depending on the respective equipment of the vehicle. In
this context, for example in the case of utility vehicles, in particular
in the case of heavy trucks and buses, sensor elements for automatic
adaptive cruise control systems (ACC) and/or for lane detection and/or
lane keeping systems (lane guard system) are often mounted on or behind
the inner side of a vehicle front windshield.

[0004] Mounting electric or electronic components on or behind the inner
side of a vehicle front windshield provides, in particular, the advantage
that damage to the components is largely avoided. Furthermore, as a rule
no additional devices for cleaning the field of vision is required, in
particular for optical sensors and cameras, since these components
usually lie in the wiping field of the windshield wipers which are
provided on the outside of a vehicle front windshield. The sensors,
cameras or transmitters which are often provided on or behind the inner
side of the vehicle front windshield in lorries are preferably mounted in
the region of the wiping field, and here in the lower region of the
vehicle front windshield.

[0005] In this context, published, non-prosecuted German patent
application DE 10 2007 012 993 A1, corresponding to U.S. patent
publication No. 20070216768, discloses a system for mounting a camera
within a vehicle. In the described technical solution, the camera is
arranged inside the vehicle behind a special window which is permeable to
infrared radiation and is let into the vehicle front windshield. The
camera is covered with respect to the passenger compartment by a housing,
wherein the camera is positioned between the vehicle front windshield and
the housing in such a way that the field of vision of the camera is
directed through the window which is permeable to infrared radiation. The
housing which is used is of L-shaped design and is attached to the
vehicle front windshield adjacent to the roof inner lining in an upper
region of the vehicle front windshield. The field of vision of the camera
is also located in the wiping field of the windshield wiper here so that
it can always be kept free of dirt.

[0006] Furthermore, published, non-prosecuted German patent application DE
10 2005 002 686 A1 discloses a housing which is arranged behind a vehicle
windshield and which can accommodate a camera, sensors for chip cards or
other systems. The described housing is distinguished, in particular, by
the fact that it has a flap which makes the interior of the housing
easily accessible in order, for example, to clean the vehicle windshield
behind the housing or to repair or replace components arranged inside the
housing. The housing is arranged directly on the inner side of a vehicle
front windshield, a cross-section surface increasing markedly in the
direction of the inner roof lining.

[0007] It is problematic when attaching electric or electronic components
or their housings in the region of the inner side of the vehicle front
windshields not only in that they restrict the driver's field of vision
but also that they are arranged directly in the flow region of the air
nozzles which direct fresh air onto the inner side of the vehicle front
windshield. The fresh air which is directed onto the inner side of a
vehicle front windshield is usually conditioned in terms of its state
parameters in such a way that the inner side of the windshield is kept
free of water or the formation of ice, in particular on the outer side of
the windshield, is avoided. In this context, front windshield defrosting
is carried out, usually by means of an air-conditioned airstream which
emerges from air nozzles or air outflow openings which are mounted in the
direct vicinity of the front windshield on the instrument panel or on an
adjoining panel, and flows upward along the front windshield. Components
or the housings thereof which are located in the direct airstream along
the inner side of the front windshield have in some cases a considerable
negative influence on this airstream.

[0008] Owing to the housing geometries which are usually configured only
with a view to accommodating electric and/or electronic components and
restricting a vehicle driver's field of vision to a minimum extent,
problems often occur with the defrosting of the windshield, dicing of the
windshield or even with the heating of the windshield. These problems can
even be so severe that at least in certain regions of the vehicle front
windshield an undesired layer of ice is formed on the outer side of the
front windshield under corresponding conditions.

[0009] Proceeding from the technical solutions which are known from the
prior art and the problems with the known systems, the invention is based
on the object of specifying a passenger compartment element with electric
and/or electronic components by which the flow of air along the inner
side of a vehicle front windshield is not influenced or is only
influenced to a minimum degree. The solution which is to be specified
will, in particular, ensure that, on the one hand, the airflow along the
inner side of the vehicle front windshield is disrupted to the smallest
possible extent and, on the other hand, that regions around which the
airstream does not flow are kept as small as possible. This is intended
to ensure that at all times reliable defrosting, deicing and heating of
the vehicle front windshield is ensured despite the provision of the
often unavoidable electric or electronic components on the inner side of
a vehicle front windshield.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a
flow-optimized housing on the front windshield of a motor vehicle which
overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices of
this general type.

[0011] According to the invention, a passenger compartment element of a
motor vehicle or for a motor vehicle has a housing, in which at least one
electric and/or electronic functional component is provided. The
passenger compartment element is arranged in the passenger compartment of
the vehicle, on or behind an inner side of a vehicle front windshield in
a region through which an airstream which is directed at least in certain
sections onto the inner side of the vehicle front windshield flows from
at least one air nozzle at least temporarily. The passenger compartment
element is developed in such a way that the housing has an outer contour
which is rounded and/or fluidically optimized with respect to its being
flowed around by the airstream directed onto the inner side of the
vehicle front windshield. A cross-sectional surface of the outer contour,
against which cross- sectional surface a part of the airstream flowing
along or at least virtually parallel to the vehicle front windshield
flows, is larger than a cross-sectional surface lying in the flow-off
region of the housing.

[0012] The housing is preferably optimized with respect to the fluidic
configuration in such a way that an extent of the outer contour in the
transverse direction with respect to a part of the airstream flowing
along or at least virtually parallel to the vehicle front windshield is
smaller than in the direction of flow. In this case, the passenger
compartment element according to the invention having a housing in which
an electric and/or electronic functional component is provided is
distinguished by the fact that the outer contour is given a comparatively
long extent in the longitudinal direction of the airflow compared to its
cross-sectional surface. The surface against which there is a flow, which
is oriented transversely with respect to the airstream or the airflow,
likewise has a slender outer contour.

[0013] In one specific embodiment of the invention, the housing has an at
least partially droplet-shaped outer contour or a contour which is
droplet-shaped at least in certain sections. Here, the passenger
compartment element which is embodied according to the invention, or the
housing of the passenger compartment element, has a droplet shape whose
cross-sectional surface changes continuously along the direction of flow
of the airstream and becomes much smaller in particular in the flow-off
region of the housing. A rounded edge, which is arranged at least
virtually perpendicularly with respect to the windshield and in which the
side wall surfaces of the housing run together, is preferably provided at
the upper end of the housing facing the inner roof lining. Alternatively
it is also conceivable to provide, in the flow-off region of the housing,
a spoiler surface or a spoiler surface with rounded portions or shapes
which are embodied in a suitable way. Possible conceivable shapes are,
for example, the comb contours or Jaray contours which are known from
vehicle bodywork construction and are used in particular for the rear
parts of vehicles. Furthermore, it is optionally possible for individual
surfaces, in particular the two side surfaces facing the outer sides of
the vehicle front windshield or the A pillars, of the housing or else the
entire housing to be contoured in a droplet shape. It is essential in
each case that the outer contour of the housing tapers in the direction
of flow of the airstream flowing along the window so that the partial
airstreams flowing around the housing are joined in the flow-off region
of the housing in such a way that no separation of the flow with the
associated formation of eddying occurs here. The upper terminating edge
of the housing, which forms a spoiler edge, is therefore embodied in such
a way that at least two of the partial airstreams which flow around the
housing are brought together on the lee side of this edge at an angle
which is as acute as possible.

[0014] The geometry of the outer contour of the housing can also be
embodied with optimized radii with respect to the flowing around by the
airstream which flows virtually parallel to the vehicle front windshield.
A partial droplet shape, which is implemented according to one preferred
embodiment of the invention, is to be understood to mean that the housing
does not have a droplet shape around its entire circumference because it
adjoins, for example in its region facing the air outlet nozzles, an
instrument panel or a component, in particular an interior component,
which adjoins the latter. In this case, the housing can preferably also
be attached directly to the instrument panel or to the component which
adjoins the latter, in particular an interior component, so that the
surface of the instrument panel merges directly with the outer wall of
the housing.

[0015] In a further embodiment, the housing can be attached to the vehicle
front windshield by, for example, a bonded connection or adhesive
connection.

[0016] Alternatively, it is, of course, also conceivable for the housing
of the passenger compartment element to be attached to the instrument
panel or to the component adjoining it, in particular an interior
component, with the aid of a suitably embodied holder, base and/or a
component foot.

[0017] Given such an embodiment or such a way of attaching the passenger
compartment element, it is particularly advantageous if the holder, base
and/or the component foot are also of optimized configuration with
respect to the fluidic configuration or have lining elements which are of
a correspondingly suitable, flow- optimized design.

[0018] A further preferred embodiment provides that the housing of the
passenger compartment element has a line feed which is connected to the
housing and which supplies energy to the electric and/or electronic
components and/or serves for the transmission of data.

[0019] Such a line feed is also of suitably flow-optimized design with
respect to the airstream flowing at least virtually parallel to the inner
side of the vehicle front windshield or is surrounded by a lining element
which is of flow-optimized design.

[0020] In a housing according to the invention one or more electric and/or
electronic components can optionally be provided. According to one
advantageous development, there is provision in this context that the
housing has, on an inner side of the side facing the vehicle front
windshield, at least one opening for a sensor element of the at least one
electric or electronic functional component. The opening which is
provided serves, for example, as a field of vision for optical sensors,
which field of vision is directed through the vehicle windshield and onto
the road in front of the vehicle. If a plurality of components are
provided within a fluidically optimized housing, they are preferably
arranged one on top of the other in order thus to implement a housing
contour which is embodied so as to be slender in the transverse direction
with respect to the direction in which the airstream flows against the
housing, and is embodied so as to be elongate in the direction of flow.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the housing has,
in the flow-off region, a spoiler surface at which virtually eddy-free
detachment of the airflow can take place at least temporarily.

[0022] Other features which are considered as characteristic for the
invention are set forth in the appended claims.

[0023] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as
embodied in a flow-optimized housing on the front windshield of a motor
vehicle, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details
shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made
therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the
scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

[0024] The construction and method of operation of the invention, however,
together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best
understood from the following description of specific embodiments when
read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0025]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of an instrument panel
with an adjoining component and a functional component arranged thereon,
with an optical sensor according to the prior art; and

[0026]FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of the instrument panel
with the adjoining component and a housing which is arranged thereon and
in which two electronic functional components are arranged according to
the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first,
particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a passenger compartment
element 1 of a non-illustrated cab of a utility vehicle, as is known from
the prior art. The illustration is of a view with a viewing direction
from the front through a vehicle front windshield 4 of the utility
vehicle's cab onto an instrument panel 5 with an adjoining component or
interior component 6. The instrument panel 5 with the adjoining interior
component 6 has, in the front region, air nozzles or suitably embodied
air outflow openings 7 which are arranged virtually parallel to the inner
side of the vehicle front windshield 4. In a central part of the interior
component 6, a functional component 8 with a sensor element 9, in
particular an optical sensor 9, which is arranged in a housing 2, is
provided. The electronic component 8 which is illustrated is, for
example, a camera of a lane detection system.

[0028] The markings which delimit the carriageway are sensed with the aid
of such a camera 8 in order to implement automatic lane detection and/or
lane keeping on the basis of corresponding data using an evaluation unit
and/or control unit of a corresponding system.

[0029] In the lower region of the housing 2 a component foot 3 is provided
by which the camera 8 is attached by its housing 2 to the interior
component 6 of the utility vehicle's cab. It is clearly apparent here
that the housing 2 has a comparatively angular outer contour (see for
example side surface 11) and the component foot 3 also has regions in
which airflow is not guided but instead eddying of the airflow can occur.

[0030] The airstream which emerges from the air nozzles and/or from
suitable airstream outlet openings 7 is directed at least partially onto
an inner side of the vehicle front windshield 4. The airstream, or at
least a part of this airstream, therefore flows from the air nozzles or
airstream outlet openings 7 along the inner side of the vehicle front
windshield 4 and/or upwards at least virtually parallel thereto in a
direction X of the upper side edge of the vehicle front windshield 4.
With the side edge, the vehicle front windshield 4 usually adjoins a
non-illustrated window strut.

[0031] A vehicle driver can regulate both the temperature and the volume
stream of the airflow as a function of the ambient conditions and of the
personal comfort requirements. In addition to a manual control there are
often also automatic control systems provided which selectively set, as a
function of the ambient conditions, the parameters of the air flowing out
of the air nozzles or airstream outlet openings 7. For example the
defrosting of the front windshield is therefore carried out by an
airstream which is suitably conditioned in respect of its state
parameters with the aid of a vehicle air-conditioning system.
Conditioning the airstream is understood to mean in this context not only
that the temperature of the airstream can be controlled to different
degrees but also that its moisture content can be selectively set to a
certain extent.

[0032] The provision of a camera unit or camera 8 in the flow region of
the air flowing out of the air outlet openings 7 brings about a
disruption in the airstream which is directed over the inner side of the
vehicle front windshield 4 or at least virtually parallel thereto. This
can lead to a situation in which defrosting, deicing and/or heating of
the vehicle front windshield 4 does not take place to the necessary
extent. In particular, either delays can occur during the defrosting or
the deicing of the vehicle front windshield 4 or individual regions of
the vehicle front windshield 4 are not at all subjected to the
correspondingly conditioned airstream. The disruption of the airflow
owing to the components 3, 8 which are arranged in the region of the
inner side of the vehicle front windshield 4 can become so severe that
the vehicle front windshield 4 is not heated to the necessary extent, in
particular at low outer temperatures, and a layer of ice is formed on the
outer side of the vehicle front windshield 4. This leads to the vehicle
driver's vision being impaired and ultimately makes driving dangerous, in
particular shortly after a cold start of the vehicle.

[0033]FIG. 2 illustrates the passenger compartment element 1 according to
the invention in an embodiment. The passenger compartment element 1 has a
housing 2 and two cameras 8 which are arranged therein as the functional
elements 8. The cameras 8 each have at least one sensor element 9. In
contrast to the technical solutions known from the prior art, the housing
2 is of a fluidically optimized design with respect to the airflow which
flows along the inner side of the vehicle front windshield 4. The housing
2 which is illustrated in FIG. 2 is distinguished above all by the fact
that the outer contour is comparatively elongated in the direction of
flow of the airstream and the housing 2 is embodied so as to be slender
in its flow-off region 12.

[0034] The illustrated housing 2 is embodied in a droplet shape, wherein
cross sections and/or contour sections with optimized radii have been
selected. The housing 2 can also be embodied at least in certain sections
in a droplet shape or at least in certain sections in a cone shape or at
least in certain sections in a spherical shape. In particular, the side
surfaces 11 of the housing 2 in FIG. 2 follow the contour of a droplet in
such a way that they run together in a rounded terminating edge in a
flow-off region 12. As a result of the tapering of the housing
cross-section in the direction of the flow-off region 12 and the equally
rounded shape of the terminating edge it is ensured that, in particular,
the partial airstreams which flow around along the side surfaces 11 of
the housing 2 are joined together behind the terminating edge, in the lee
side of the housing 2, so as to enclose an acute angle. The flow-off
region 12 of the housing 2 constitutes the narrowest region, that is to
say the region with the smallest cross-sectional surface of the housing
2.

[0035] Both the region 10 against which there is a flow and the
terminating edge in the flow-off region 12 of the housing 2 are of
rounded design. A central factor here is that the radius of the housing
contour is chosen so as to be larger in the region 10 against which there
is a flow than the radius of the outer contour in the flow-off region 12.
In this way, at the same time a suitable flow around the housing 2 and
minimization of the flow losses in the flow-off region 12, are achieved,
in particular by largely preventing the formation of eddies behind the
rounded terminating edge.

[0036] The housing 2 has, in its region 10 against which there is a flow,
a small base 3 which connects the passenger compartment element 1 to the
interior component 6 of the cab of the utility vehicle. The outer contour
of the base 3 is adapted to the outer contour of the housing 2, with the
result that the outer skin of the base 3 merges directly with the surface
of the housing 2. The junction region between the interior component 6
and the housing 2 is also embodied in such a way that the airflow can
flow at least virtually free of disruption or eddies along the surfaces
around which there is a flow.

[0037] On the side of the housing 2 facing the vehicle front windshield 4,
two openings 13 which are arranged one on top of the other are provided.
The optics or the optical sensors 9 of the camera 8 of a lane detection
or lane keeping system (lane guard system) and of the camera 8 of an
adaptive cruise controller (ACC) are arranged directly behind these
openings 13. The openings 13 form in this way the starting point for the
field of vision of the two cameras 8 onto the road located in front of
the vehicle, here a utility vehicle. The cameras 8 which are provided in
the housing 2 which is embodied according to the invention are arranged
one on top of the other. This arrangement in turn ensures that the
housing 2 has a slender and elongated outer contour. The extent of the
housing 2 is larger here in the direction of flow than in the transverse
direction with respect to the airflow.

[0038] The passenger compartment element 1 with the housing 2 and the two
cameras 8 arranged therein is also positioned behind the vehicle front
windshield 4 in such a way that the airstream which emerges from the air
nozzles or air outlet openings 7 and flows along the inner side of the
vehicle front windshield 4 is virtually unaffected by any negative
influence. For this purpose, the positioning of the air outlet openings 7
is advantageously matched to the positioning of the passenger compartment
element 1. The surface of the housing 2 facing the vehicle front
windshield 4 runs at least virtually parallel to the inner side of the
vehicle front windshield 4. The housing 2 adjoins the vehicle front
windshield 4, with a non-illustrated seal being provided between the
vehicle front windshield and the housing. Alternatively it is conceivable
to bond the housing 2 over the entire surface of the windshield. At the
surfaces which do not face the vehicle front windshield 4, in particular
the side surface 11, the airstream which emerges from the air outlet
openings 7 flows around the housing 2, while at the same time a reliable
flow over the inner side of the vehicle front windshield 4 is ensured.

[0039] The technical solution according to the invention makes available
in a particular way a passenger compartment element 1 with a housing 2
which permits the arrangement of electric and/or electronic components 8
behind the vehicle front windshield 4 without the airstream which flows
along the inner side of the vehicle front windshield 4 being permanently
disrupted as a result. Ventilation of the vehicle front windshield 4
which is sufficient for any operating state, in particular for deicing,
defrosting and/or heating, is therefore reliably ensured.